Joining the St Margaret's Choristers
St Margaret’s Choristers offers 24 talented girls from across London an exciting and historic opportunity to sing in a professional choir in Westminster Abbey and St Margaret’s Church.
Joining the choir
Girls can apply to the choir in the second half of Year 6. There are four junior choristers in Year 7, and 20 full choristers in Year 8-12. Our current choristers represent 18 different schools across London, and we welcome applications from girls from any school or background.
On joining the full choir in Year 8, each chorister will receive a scholarship of £2,500 per annum: £1,500 will be paid each year, with the remaining £1,000 per annum paid as a lump sum when a chorister leaves the choir at the end of Year 12.
Singing lessons (either 1:1 or 1:2) are provided during rehearsals, and theory tuition is provided for younger choristers In particular, girls must be able to reach Westminster by 4.25pm on a weekday for rehearsals. In return a full commitment to the schedule is expected.
Enquiries about the choir are welcome at any time. Please email [email protected]
Benefits and opportunities
- Scholarship of £2,500 p.a. in Years 8-12
- Free singing and theory tuition
- Perform with experienced professional conductor, singers and organists
- Sing in both St Margaret’s Church and Westminster Abbey
- Additional musical projects such as concerts, recordings and tours
- Learn and perform a wide range of the finest choral music
- Make new friendships
- Be part of an inspiring team
“Singing in this choir has helped me gain confidence and work much harder in everything I do, surrounded by young women who love music as much as I do.”
Choristers' schedule
When a chorister joins in Year 7, their weekly term-time schedule will be:
| Day | Time | Schedule |
| Sundays | 3:00pm - 4.30pm | Rehearsal |
| Mondays | 4:30pm - 5:30pm | Rehearsal |
Choristers in Year 7 will also be asked to sing in occasional services with the full choir.
For choristers in Years 8-12 in the full choir, the schedule is as follows:
| Day | Time | Schedule |
| Sundays | 3:00pm - 4:30pm | Rehearsal |
| 4:30pm - 5:00pm | Break | |
| 5:00pm - 5:45pm | Rehearsal | |
| 6:00pm - 7:00pm | Evensong | |
| Tuesdays | 4:30pm - 5:45pm | Rehearsal |
| Wednesdays | 4:30pm - 5:45PM | Rehearsal or Evensong |
If you would like to find out more about choristerships available to boys here at Westminster Abbey and further details of our unique choir school, you can find more information on the Westminster Abbey Choir School website.
Application
We look for girls with musical potential and strong commitment to the weekly schedule, not fully-fledged performers.
Previous music lessons or singing training are not necessary, and you don’t have to red music – in Year 7 Junior Choristers receive intense training in sightreading and singing. In the auditions we listen to your voice and get to know you and your musical potential – that’s where it all starts.
Applications for entry in 2026 are now closed.
The next round of applications will be in 2027. We will post details here, early in the New Year, of our Chorister Experience Days (likely held late February 2027).
We will upload the application form once applications open in early March. We invite applicants to audition, initially to group auditions end of April, and then a shortlist of individual auditions in May.
If you are interested in more information and would like to receive update emails about Chorister Experience sessions in 2027 and highlights about the Choristers, please email our Music Coordinator at: [email protected]
Questions about applying?
Enquiries about the choir are welcome at any time.
